Friday 30 June 2017

Re: [cobirds] Digest for cobirds@googlegroups.com - 6 updates in 5 topics

Cordilleran Flycatcher in El Paso County        

We have a nesting Cordilleran Flycatcher in Monument, CO - 7,400 ft.  .  First noticed her building the nest under our front deck on a pillar platform on June 18.  She has been sitting on the nest for almost 7 days. 

Another Cordilleran Flycatcher built a nest last year about the same time but we found the eggs on the deck about a week after she started nesting. 

Jackie Heyda
Monument, CO.  El Paso County

From: "cobirds@googlegroups.com" <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
To: Digest recipients <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 2:31 AM
Subject: [cobirds] Digest for cobirds@googlegroups.com - 6 updates in 5 topics

mvjohnski@gmail.com: Jun 29 06:36PM -0700

Dave: We have been carefully observing the plant cover types where we are
seeing the dickcissels. Myself and a range conservationist discussed this
very topic yesterday on our trip to see Dickcissels south of Alamosa. Here
is the San Luis Valley perspective....list:
 
Tall Brome Grasses: Usually of nonnative grasses like smooth brome, timothy
Tall Grasses-Alfalfa complex: Birds are in a mix of these two plant cover
types.
Barley: Today I heard one singing in a barley field. These are all cover
types. Habitat types or plant associations usually refer to native plant
potentials. A cover type is just the combo of plants that are currently on
an ecological site.
Most of these types are currently being cut for hay. In which case, birds
have moved to fencelines or uncut corners and edges. We will be looking at
this population to see if we can see breeding evidence, aka Atlas
procedures.
 
I have not seen or heard any Dickcissels in the San Luis Valley that are on
native habitat types/plant associations. Not surprising since we lack true
tall grass prairie ecosystems in our high desert shrubland communities.
 
John Rawinski
Retired Soil Scientist USDA
 
 
On Monday, June 26, 2017 at 12:08:12 PM UTC-6, Dave Leatherman wrote:
 
DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman@msn.com>: Jun 30 06:42AM

Very nice information, John. While Dickcissels seem to occur in many different plant communities, as you point out, they are NOT everywhere. I am struggling to see the keys to their occupation of a particular site or region. Is it structure or food or both? My botanist friend Dave Steingraeber from CSU told me tonight that he heard from a colleague that drought in the northern prairie states (Dakotas, etc.) is perhaps forcing birds from normal strongholds into other places. The result is birds in novel areas or birds at abnormally high numbers in areas where they occur with regularity in low numbers. Lush vegetation seems to be a key to where they settle for the summer but I suspect the prey base that lush vegetation supports is the real answer. Whatever the answer(s), it is interesting.
 
 
Again, thanks to you and everybody who has chimed in on this issue.
 
 
Dave Leatherman
 
Fort Collins
 
 
________________________________
From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of mvjohnski@gmail.com <mvjohnski@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2017 7:36 PM
To: Colorado Birds
Subject: [cobirds] Re: Dickcissel plant associations
 
Dave: We have been carefully observing the plant cover types where we are seeing the dickcissels. Myself and a range conservationist discussed this very topic yesterday on our trip to see Dickcissels south of Alamosa. Here is the San Luis Valley perspective....list:
 
Tall Brome Grasses: Usually of nonnative grasses like smooth brome, timothy
Tall Grasses-Alfalfa complex: Birds are in a mix of these two plant cover types.
Barley: Today I heard one singing in a barley field. These are all cover types. Habitat types or plant associations usually refer to native plant potentials. A cover type is just the combo of plants that are currently on an ecological site.
Most of these types are currently being cut for hay. In which case, birds have moved to fencelines or uncut corners and edges. We will be looking at this population to see if we can see breeding evidence, aka Atlas procedures.
 
I have not seen or heard any Dickcissels in the San Luis Valley that are on native habitat types/plant associations. Not surprising since we lack true tall grass prairie ecosystems in our high desert shrubland communities.
 
John Rawinski
Retired Soil Scientist USDA
 
 
On Monday, June 26, 2017 at 12:08:12 PM UTC-6, Dave Leatherman wrote:
 
I would be interested in hearing from COBIRDS folks about their observations of the dominant plant(s) in the areas where Dickcissels seem to be territorial (lots of singing on multiple days). Of course, alfalfa has always been a crop that seems to attract Dickcissels, presumably because of the sulphur and white butterfly caterpillars found in these fields, and probably a lot of other insects like grasshoppers.
 
 
During this year when the Colorado prairie and foothills are lush with plant life due to much needed moisture over the last couple years, Dickcissels can exist in our midst and they seem to have choices. Which choices are they making? In addition to alfalfa fields, I have also seen them in salt-cedar/tamarisk (of all things, in this case near Nee Noshe Res south of Eads (Kiowa)) and in wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) north of Nunn (Weld).
 
 
What other plants are you seeing Dickcissels favor?
 
 
Thanks,
 
Dave Leatherman
 
Fort Collins
 
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Tina Jones <tjcalliope@hotmail.com>: Jun 30 04:02AM

Hi all,
 
 
After reading Karen's and David's posts about Cordilleran nest dates I remembered 2, different things. One, the Cordilleran Flycatchers which nested at a cabin I used to visit, made a nest under the cabin roof on a ledge. This cabin elevation was around 8200 feet. The nest was usually finished close to July 10-13. This was Lodgepole Pine Habitat.
 
 
Number two, I had a pair of Cordilleran nest in 2015, under the roof ledge of my HOUSE, in Littleton. I was shocked when I heard the birds calling back and forth in my backyard the time of June 15th. I got to watch the Female take shredded bark off of one of my trees, and then she placed it under the house ledge on top of a water drain spout. The nest was pretty much finished by June 20. I then had my bad fall and was away from the house for 2, weeks. When I got back to my house, the Flycatchers were no where to be seen. I asked my gardener in mid August if she could climb my ladder to see if there was anything in the nest. To my surprise, she said there were 2 eggs. Her photo showed them to be Cordilleran Flycatcher eggs.
 
 
2015 was a crazy summer and I forgot to post the above info. Sorry! This elevation seems pretty LOW to me for Cordilleran. I am one block away from Denver County , close to Fort Logan Cemetary. I do not know what happened to the Flycatchers. I have 1 Cooper's Hawk which spends every day in my yard [in the summer] kak, kak,, kaking, at the Great Horned Owls which reside in my yard.
 
 
Happy Birding!
 
Tina Jones
 
4400 Bow Mar Dr.
 
Littleton, CO, Jefferson County
linda hodges <hikerhodges@gmail.com>: Jun 29 07:58PM -0700

Tonight between 6:30 and 7:30 pm, at least 4 Dickcissels were singing
directly south of the community garden at Bear Creek Park, just as Jim
Nelson reported a few days ago. Two males sang atop shrubs, the other two
(possibly more) stayed hidden in the grass.
 
This field is full of a variety of grasses, among them brome and ryegrass.
Also sage, mullein, and numerous others I've yet to identify. Will research
it more when time allows.
 
Just to clarify (see subject line), the grasses were not singing. :-)
 
Linda Hodges
Colorado Springs
Paula Hansley <redstart.paula@gmail.com>: Jun 29 02:19PM -0600

County listers,
 
An immature Bald eagle is being seen regularly by Kriley Pond, which is on hwy. 46 near the Visitor's Center. I saw it this morning sitting in the top of a ponderosa.
 
Paula Hansley
Louisville
 
Sent from my iPhone
Joyce Takamine <jabirujt@gmail.com>: Jun 29 04:27AM -0600

Compiler: Joyce Takamine
e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org
Date: June 29, 2017
 
This is the Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, June 29 sponsored by Denver Field
Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.
 
Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species)
NOTE: The RBA is now using the new AOU checklist and the order of families
has changes.
 
Mallard (Mexican) (*Logan)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Chaffee)
Northern Bobwhite (Baca)
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Weld)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Boulder, *Logan)
Greater Roadrunner (Baca)
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (*Logan)
Black Rail (Pueblo)
Mountain Plover (Weld)
Upland Sandpiper (*Logan)
Long-billed Curlew (Larimer, Weld)
Sanderling (Bent, Douglas, Kit Carson)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Weld)
Common Loon (Jackson, Ouray)
YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Dolores)
Green Heron (Larimer)
WHITE IBIS (*Adams)
Mississippi Kite (El Paso, Phillips)
Lewis's Woodpecker (*Dolores)
Red-headed Woodpecker (Adams, El Paso, Larimer, *Logan)
ACORN WOODPECKER (*Gunnison)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Logan)
Williamson's Sapsucker ( *Delta, Jefferson, Larimer, Pitkin, Pueblo)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (*Gunnison)
Least Flycatcher (Mesa, Moffat)
Black Phoebe (Boulder, Ouray)
Great Crested Flycatcher (*Logan)
Cassin's Kingbird (Baca)
Bell's Vireo (Pueblo)
Chihuahuan Raven (Baca)
Purple Martin (*Delta)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Baca, El Paso)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Weld)
McCown's Longspur (Larimer, Weld)
Northern Waterthrush (Jackson)
Clay-colored Sparrow (Baca)
Field Sparrow (*Logan)
BAIRD'S SPARROW (Larimer)
Fox Sparrow (*Boulder, Jackson, Larimer, San Juan)
Summer Tanager (Montezuma)
Northern Cardinal (*Logan)
Painted Bunting (Baca)
Dickcissel (Alamosa, *Alamosa/Conejos, Boulder, Chaffee, El Paso,
Huerfano, Larimer, *Logan, Weld)
Bobolink (Boulder, Huerfano)
Balitmore Oriole (*Logan)
 
ADAMS COUNTY:
---A WHITE IBIS was reported by Zachary Schiff on June 18 at Lowell Ponds
(North side of I-76). On June 25, the WHITE IBIS was reported by Ira
Sanders, Hillary White, and John Malenich at Lowell Ponds (Clear Creek
Valley Park). On June 28 Carl Lundblad reported that the WHITE IBIS
continues at Lowell Ponds (Clear Creek Valley Park) on the SE pond.
 
ALAMOSA COUNTY:
---On June 24 on CR CC bet CR 21 and CR 22, Christy Payne reported 5
Dickcissel (3 singing m, 2 f).
 
ALAMOSA/CONEJOS COUNTIES:
---On June 28, Jan Rawinski reported 14 Dickcissels on CC Road.
 
BACA COUNTY:
---On June 24 at Picture Canyon, Wayne Heideman reported 2 Northern
Bobwhite, 5 Chichuahuan Raven, Curve-billed Thrasher, and 2 Painted
Bunting.
---On June 26 at Comanche NG (Baca County Section), JoAnn Hackos reported
Greater Roadrunner, 2 Cassin's Kingbirds, 7 Chihuahuan Ravens, and
Clay-colored Sparrow.
 
BOULDER COUNTY:
---On June 23 at Brainard Lake, a Fox Sparrow (Slate-colored) was reported
by Dean Colprit.
---On June 23 at Teller Farms South, Jack Bushong reported a Yellow-billed
Cuckoo.
---On June 24 Robin Byers and Bob Fiehweg reported Bobolinks in grassy
meadow at City of Boulder Open Space Facility on Cherryvale Road.
---On June 25, 3 Dickcissels were reported by Bob Spencer on 111th St (dirt
rd) that wragps around Prince Lake 2 then intersects to north with Isabelle.
---On June 25, a Black Phoebe was reported by Megan Jones and Mike
Patterson at 75th St and Boulder Creek. On June 27 at Boulder Creek and
75th St, Chris Thomas reported Black Phoebe.
---On June 28, from Caribou townsite to Blad Mountain, Dave Hallock
reported 6 Fox Sparrows in Willow Carr.
 
CHAFFEE COUNTY:
---On June 20 on CR 175 near Salida, Jeff Witters reported 5 Dickcissels.
On June 25 on CR 175 near intersection with RR tracks, Jeff Guy reported a
pair of mating Dickcissels.
---On June 27 at Sands Lake SWA, Daryl Bernard reported Barrow's Goldeneye.
 
DELTA COUNTY:
---On June 28 in Hubbark Park N of Paonia, Dennis Garrison reported pair of
Williamson's Sapsuckers nesting in broke Spruce Snag and several Purple
Martin nest trees.
 
DOLORES COUNTY:
---On June 25 an imm YELLOW-BILLED LOON was reported by Jim Beatty at
Groundhog Reservoir in the NW section.
---On June 28 at Groundhog Reservoir, Andy Boyce reported Lewis's
Woodpeckers.
 
EL PASO COUNTY:
---On June 23, 2 Dickcissel were reported by Dan and Cheryl Hubbard at
Cheyenne Mountain SP just past bridge leading to Zook Trail. On June 24, 2
singing Dickcissels were reported by Debbie Barnes at Cheyenne Mountain SP
at Limekiln Trailhead long Talon Trail just after the bridge.
---On June 24 at Ramah Reservoir SWA, Rob Hinds reported Red-headed
Woodpecker and 2 singing Dickcissels.
---On June 24 at Adams Open Space in Fountain, Tanja Britton reported 2
Mississippi Kites. On June 27 at
Adams Open Space in Fountain, Alan Versaw reported 2 Mississippi Kites.
---On June 26 at Bear Creek Park East, Jim Nelson reported 5 singing m
Dickcissels.
---On June 27 at Birdsall Rd, Alan Versaw reported 2 Curve-billed Thrashers.
 
GRAND COUNTY:
---On June 29 in Rocky Mt NP on Colorado River Trail, Andy Keister reported
2 American Three-toed Woodpeckers.
 
GUNNISON COUNTY:
---On June 26 Paul Ode reported a pair of ACORN WOODPECKERS on CR 27
(38.2004, -107.-591) south of Rudloph Hill. This would be a new county
record if accepted.
 
HUERFANO COUNTY:
---On June 25, Polly Wren Neldner reported 76 – 100 Dickcissels on CR 360,
350, 340, and 341 and
9 Bobolinks on CR 358 & 360.
 
JACKSON COUNTY:
---On June 25 at Aspen Campground, Chuck Hundertmark reported Fox Sparrow.
---On June 25 at Michigan River Wetlands near CR 30, Chuck Hundertmark
reported Fox Sparrow.
---On June 26 at Lake John Annex, Chuck Hundertmark reported first summer
Common Loon.
 
LARIMER COUNTY:
---On June 20, Andy Bankert, Jacob Drucker, and Jason Gregg reported Upland
Sandpiper, 30 McCown's Longspurs (N of Pronghorn/Plover intersection) and 4
BAIRD'S SPARROWS (S of Pronghorn/Plover intersection). They were looking
for evidence of nesting of BAIRD'S SPARROWS and found none. On June 24 at
Soapstone Prairie NA David Dowell, Kara Carragher, and Lisa Edwards
reported 3 BAIRD'S SPARROWS and 17 McCown's Longspurs. On June 26 at
Soapstone Prairie, Plover Trail, Greg Rand and Walter Wehtje reported 3
BAIRD'S SPARROWS.
---On June 26 on Unnamed Road S of Soapstone Prairie Greg Rand and Walter
Wehtje reported 8 McCown's Longspurs.
---On June 24 multiple singing Dickcissels were reported by Rachel Hopper
at the intersection of CR 80 and CR 19 and several more sest of CR 19 on CR
80.
---On June 23 a Green Heron was reported by David Wade and Nick Komar at
Lee Martinez Park at Hidden Pond behind farm.
---On June 23 on Red Mountain Rd, Kevin Jablonski reported 4 Long-billed
Curlew.
---On June 24 at Bellvue, Pingree Road, Nick Komar and Sharon Forsyth
reported Red-headed Woodpecker.
---On June 27 2 singing Dickcissels were reported by Libby Edwards at
Reservoir Ridge near the parking lot in first part of trail from Overland
Drive.
 
LOGAN COUNTY:
---On June 28 at Tamarack Ranch SWA 385 Road, Loch Kilpatrick reported
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, m RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, 3 Red-headed
Woodpeckers, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Great Crested Flycatcher, 2 Field
Sparrows, 2 Northern Cardinals, 2 Dickcissels, Baltimore Oriole.
---On June 28 at Red Lion SWA, Loch Kilpatrick reported Mallard (Mexican)
amd 2 Upland Sandpipers.
 
MESA COUNTY:
---On June 20 in Collbran Job Corp Area, PE Road, Mike Henwood reported
Least Flycatcher. On June 24 in Collbran, PE Road, Rodene Harwood and
Ronda Woodward reported Least Flycatcher.
 
OURAY COUNTY:
---On June 25 at bridge over Uncompahgre River at Billy Creek SWA, Kent
Nelson reported 3 Black Phoebes.
 
PITKIN COUNTY:
---On June 24 a pair of Williamson's Sapsuckers was reported by Art Dahl At
Ruedi Reservoir, Chapman Dam campground.
 
PUEBLO COUNTY:
---On June 15 a Black Rail was reported by Bill Kaempfer at Nepesta Road
Marsh. On June 23 a Black Rail was reported by SeEtta Moss at Nepesta Road.
---On June 27 a singing Bell's Vireo was reported by Brandon Percival in
Olives at 3rd Valco Pond.
 
SAN JUAN COUNTY:
---On June 19 2 Fox Sparrows (Slate Color) were reported by John Malenich
at Silverton Golden Horn Campground Road.
 
SEDGWICK COUNTY:
---On May 24 in town of Ovid, Sue Riffe and Gwen Moore reported 6 Chimney
Swifts.
---On May 24 at DePoorter Lake, Gwen Moore and Sue Riffe repored 2 Chimney
Swifts and Baltimore Oriole.
---On May 26 at Jumbo Reservoir, Norm Erthal et al reported basic plumaged
Red-thoated Loon.
 
WELD COUNTY:
---On June 20 at Windsor Lake, Steve Mlodinow reported 4 Lesser
Black-backed Gulls. On June 23 at Windsor Lake, Jean Olson reported Lesser
Black-backed Gull. On June 24 at Windsor Lake, Nick Komar reported 3 imm
Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On June 25, Gary Lefko reported 2 imm Lesser
Black-backed Gulls at Windsor Lake. On June 26, Dennis Trujillo reported 3
Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Windsor Lake.
---On June 24 near Grover, CR 122 east of CR 89, Wayne Baumgartner reported
4 Sharp-tailed Grouse (1 f, 3 chicks), Mountain Plover, and 3 McCown's
Longspur.
---On June 24, Nick Komar reported 4 Sharp-tailed Grouse (1 f, 3 chicks) at
CR 111 S of CR 128 and Dickcissel
---On June 25 at Pawnee NG; Gary Lefko reported 6 Long-billed Curlews at CR
69 .5 mi N of Swainson's Hawk interpretive sign; McCown's Longspurs were
along CR 104 with 2 Chestnut-collared Longspurs.
 
Denver Field Ornithologists Field Trips
The DFO Field Trip for Saturday, July 1 will be to Golden Gate Canyon SP
led by Paula Hansley (plhansley AT gmail.com; 720-890-2628) Directions:
From Denver take Hwy 93 to west side of Golden, just north of Golden, at
traffic light, go West on Hwy 46 (Golden Gate Canyon Road). Immediately,
turn left into parking lot on the side of road.
Will carpool to Visitor's Center at 0730 and explore the area by the
lake. Then will head up to Bootleg Bottom and hike parts of the Coyote and
Elk trails to visit ponderosa pine, aspen, and riparian habitats. Bring
lunch or snacks, water and extra jacket. Register online or contact leader.
 
The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, July 2will be to Mt Lindo Cemetery and
Turkey Creek Park leg by Karen Drozda (drozforte AT AOL.com; 303-388-0891).
Directions: Meet At 0715 at Home Depot at 4277 S Eldridge St,
Morrison. If driving south on C-470, take the Quincy Ave exit, turn right
on Quincy Ave, then take Left on West Tufts Ave, If traveling north on
C-470, you will turn right onto W Quincy after the exit, then take left on
West Tufts Ave. Home Depot sign can be seen from highway.
Will leave the Home Depot parking lot at 0730. Restrooms are
available inside Home Depot. Will first travel to Turkey Creek Park. Will
spend about 90 in this location by the creek. Then will travel to Mount
Lindo Memorial Park. Gates for this park open at 0900. Bring the usual
water, snacks, appropriate clothing for variable weather, and bug spring.
Register online or cotact leader.
 
For more information on the field trips go to dfobirds.org.
 
Good Birding,
Joyce Takamine
Boulder
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